Mind of an Athlete

Sports psychologist and IRONMAN, Paddy Cloete gives the latest on the Mind of an Athlete.

Paddy Cloete - The key to improving performance is not to try harder and train more (October 2016)Most athletes rely on dedication and old-fashioned hard work to help us achieve our performance goals. We tend to use the same approach when we encounter obstacles in achieving our goals – we try harder which usually means we train longer hours. But what do we do if we discover that our strategy of training harder does not work or actually worsens our performance?READ HERE

Paddy Cloete - Resilient people are successful people (July 2016)
Setbacks are as part of life as they are part of training and racing. The one attribute that helps us overcome our setbacks is resilience.READ HERE

Paddy Cloete - Seize the Day (June 2016)
Preparing for a race takes a lot. Time, effort, sacrifice and dedication. But once the training is over and you've put in the hard yards, the way you prepare yourself mentally can make a difference to the way your race plays out. Here a few guidelines to prepare you to seize the day and make the most of what race day throws at you. READ HERE

Paddy Cloete - Your body will follow where your mind takes you (May 2016)
“You can only do so much with the body, and so much more with the mind.” This was a lesson learned by IRONMAN legend Mark Allen that holds true today. Being mentally fit is as important as being physically prepared and IRONMAN can be a constant reminder thereof.READ HERE

Paddy Cloete - Your mind holds the key to breaking free from a slump (March 2016)No athlete is at his or her best all the time. There are always peaks and valleys. However, sometimes we seem to get lost in one of these valleys and cannot find our way out. If you are feeling that you are putting in all the time and the effort, you are physically fit, and working on your technique, yet you cannot move your performance to the next level, you may be experiencing a mental slump.READ HERE

Paddy Cloete - Improve your performance by rebooting your mind (February 2016)Your mind is the computer, the operating system, which controls your body. However, unlike a computer, your mind does not come with an instruction manual. There is no instruction manual, because you need to install your own programs. It is up to you, which programs you load.READ HERE

Paddy Cloete - Perseverence - The petrol you need to get yourself to the finish line (November 2015)Even the most successful people have setbacks. The reason they are successful is the will to overcome setbacks - the will to persevere.READ HERE

Paddy Cloete - The Springboks’ World Cup Campaign: What if the perceived disadvantages are actually advantages? (October 2015)The challenges we face can determine the way we approach them whether we perceive them as tough or easy. READ HERE
Paddy Cloete - Did Bolt win or did Gatlin Lose? (September 2015)Ability is important but often self confidence can be the difference between success or failure. READ HERE

Paddy Cloete - Listen to your inner cheerleader rather than your critic (August 2015)Motivation comes from many different sources, but the most important source is yourself. However, as much as we can be our biggest cheerleaders, we can also become our biggest critic. READ HERE